The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 120

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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ED S. CURRAN, druggist ; was born at. Fond du Lac, July 15, 1849 ; he is a graduate of the Fond du Lac Iligh School ; during thirteen years, up to March, 1879, he was in the drug business with his father, since which time he has carried on the business alone.

GEORGE P. DANA was born in the town of Empire, Fond du Lac Co., Nov. 25, 1849; came to city of Fond du Lac when 6 years old, and attended school, with the exception of working six months at the jeweler's trade, until 14 years of age; after that, he clerked one year for N. L. Bullis, in a grocery store, and then began, in 1865, the business of a gunsmi h with T. S. Weeks, which he has fol- lowed ever since; in 1877, he was appointed First Assistant Fire Marshal ; was appointed Chief in 1878, and re-appointed in 1879, and has been a fireman fifteen years. Mr. D. was married at Fond du Lac, May 19, 1871, to Phobe Lanners; they have four children-Alexander G., Paul J., Laiona J., and George A .; he is a member of St. Michaels Society, and is President of the Firemen's Mutual Aid Society.

JOHN L. DANA, hatter, furrier and dealer in gents' furnishing goods ; born in the town of Fond du Lac Sept. 12, 1851 ; he is a son of John Dana, who came to this county in 1844, and is now a resident of this city. The subject of this sketch was employed as a clerk in a grocery store for two years, and, for five years, he was in the employ of Hoyt & Cole, hatters, of this city ; in 1872, he engaged in business for himself.

SAMUEL R. DANIELS was born in Clinton Co., N. Y., in 1831, and is the son of David and Hannah Daniels, nee Roblee, also natives of New York .; he spent his early life on a farm in New York, and, with parents, came to Fond du Lac Co., Wis., and settled in the town of Eden, where his

FOND DU LAC. (DECEASED.)

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father died in the following year; his mother now lives in Michigan ; he followed farming in Eden for thirteen years, and then removed to the city of Fond du Lac, where he has since followed teaming; he now owns a house and lot on Green street, a lot on Grant, and one on corner of Grant and Eleventh streets. In 1861, he was married to Miss Prussia, daughter of Howard and Electa Mitchell, natives of New York, but immigrants to Wisconsin in 1859; they have one daughter-Cora E. Mrs. Daniels is a mem- ber of the Free-Will Baptist Church.

GEORGE D. DANKS, house, sign and ornamental painter ; was born in New London, Wis .. . in 1856; came to Fond du Lac in 1862 ; learned the painter's trade under his father while young; during the year 1877, he was steamboating on the lake; in 1878, began grocery business in city of Fond du Lac, on Scott street, which he continued till spring of 1879; owns brick building on Scott street. He married Miss Mary E. Parrish, of Fond du Lac, in 1877 ; they have one son-Edward L .; has been a member of the Order of United Workmen since March, 1878.

KEYES ARMSTRONG DARLING, oldest son of the pioneer Dr. M. C. Darling, of Fond du Lac, was born in Greenwich, Mass., in 1824; received his early education in the schools of Amherst, whither his parents removed when he was quite young; thence; in 1836, to Fond du Lac, where Keyes spent most of his time for many years ; at the age of 18, his father sent him and his sister, now Mrs. Helen Eastman, back to Albion, N. Y., to continue their studies ; his sister completed her course and he, after remaining two years, changed to Janesville, Wis .; thence to Beloit, where he attended a select school in the basement of the old brick church ; in 1846, he, with his father, opened a broker's office at Fond du Lac, which they continued for about ten years, when, in company with Dr. T. S. Wright, opened a banking-house under the name of Darling, Wright & Co. In 1850, he married Miss Ann M., daughter of John and Lovice Bowman, of Monroe Co, Wis .; they have two sons-William M., of Minnesota ; John B., medieal student at Madison. The family are members of the Episcopal Church.

E. W. DAVIS, retired ; was born in the town of Sebago, Cumberland Co., Me., Aug, 26, 1808; when 16 years old, went to Boston and vicinity, where he lived seven years ; attended Beverly Academy, in Massachusetts, two years and six months ; removed then to Schenectady, N. Y., for six months ; went to Syracuse in 1837; where, in the fall of 1838, he enlisted in the " Patriot War;" was Captain of a company of patriots composed principally of salt-boilers ; after a campaign of a few weeks, returned to Syracuse for a short time and then went to Massachusetts; in 1839, he removed to Rochester, N. Y., where he carried on the boot and shoe business for Massachusetts factories until 1841, when he went to Des Moines Co., Iowa. Mr. D. remained in Iowa, where he was a farmer and a member of the Legislature, until coming to Fond du Lac, in August, 1847 ; at Fond du Lac he has been engaged in building ; he resided one year at Appleton, where, with Dr. M. C. Darling and Amos A. Lawrence, he built a mill, which he sold, and returned to Fond du Lac. Mr. D. has been Alderman ten years, School Commissioner, Fire Warden, and held other offices. He was married, in Massachusetts, to Lavini Brown, who died in 1833. He was married a second time, at Milwaukee, in February, 1853, to Emma B, daughter of Dr. John B. Audley, who came to Milwaukee in 1842; she was born at Now- castle-under-Lyme, England; Mrs. D. has two brothers and a sister at Nashotah, and one brother keeps the Nagowicka Cottage, uear Pewaukee Lake ; her father and mother-who was Eleanor Rubathan -- were born in Staffordshire, near Newcastle, England ; Mrs. Davis inherited some poetical genius, and has written several articles of merit, the latest being " Well-remembered scenes of early girlhood in old England."

FREDERICK F. DAVIS was born in Marbletown, Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1803 ; came to Fond du Lac in 1844, and followed farming for a short time ; in 1845, he built the first flouring-mill in Fond du Lac, there being only one log and two frame dwellings in the town at that time ; Mr. Mc Williams occupied the log house, Dr. Darling one of the frame dwellings and the other was occupied by a French- man ; Mr. Davis soon sold his mill to Col. Conklin and began farming the land on which the town of Waupun is situated. his being the only shanty there at that time; in 1847, he returned to Fond du Lac, and in company with A. G. Ruggles, built the first steam saw-mill erected here ; brought the first raft of logs from the Wolf River to the town of Fond du Lac, after which, in the winter of 1847-48, they placed 3,000 logs on the banks of that river, which they rafted down to the mill in the spring of 1818, and sawed in the following summer ; they continued this business together for about two years, when Mr. Davis bought out Mr. Ruggles and managed the mill for a year longer, when, upon his election as Sheriff of the connty of Fond du Lac, he disposed of his saw-mill ; after his term of office had expired, he purchased a lumber establishment on the Sauk River, of which he was proprietor for two years, when he exchanged it for property at Calumet ; being a man of enterprise and not content when out of business, he soon pur- chased a flouring-mill at Calumet, of which he was proprietor for three years, when inducements were such

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as to cause him to dispose of this, move to New York State and purchase a large flouring and saw mill and farm, with which he operated for twelve years ; in 1874, he again returned to Fond du Lac and has since led a more quiet life, having been one of the most active and enterprising men in the early settlement of that city and county. He married Mariah Johnson, of Ellenville, Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1826, who died at Fond du Lac in 1859, leaving three children-Cornelia (deceased ). Sarah J., now Mrs. Lee, of Fond du Lac, and Betsy, now Mrs. West, of Fond du Lae. In 1862, he married Miss Sarah Smith, of Ulster Co., N. Y., by whom he had three children, as follows : Frank, Leonard and Annie.

C. H. DE GROAT, of the firm of DeGroat & Giddings. manufacturers of engines, mill machinery, brace saw-mill machinery, foundry, farm machinery and agricultural implements ; is a native of the State of New York ; born in 1839; eame to Fond du Lac in 1852. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, of the 1st W. V. I .; served with his company one year; eame home to recruit; raised Co. A, of the 32d W. V. I .; was elected Captain, and, before the elose of the war, was made Colonel of his regiment ; was with Gen. Sherman on his march to the sea; was mustered out of service, at Milwaukee, in June, 1865 ; returned to Fond du Lac and followed farming for one year; was elected County Clerk in 1866 and served for four years; in 1870, moved to Salt Lake; in 1874, returned to Fond du Lac and became part- ner of Mr. Giddings, in the firm of De Groat & Giddings. In 1862, he married Miss Josephine Allen, of Fond du Lac ; they have four children-Charles, Grant, George and Paul. Mr. D. and wife are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. D. has also been a K. of P. since 1877.

FRED WILLIAM DEHNERT, brick manufacturer ; was born in Prussia May 4, 1840 ; came direct to Fond du Lac in December, 1868, where he has been engaged in the manufacture of brick for six years. He was married, in Lomira, Dodge Co., Wis., Nov. 6, 1871, to his first wife, and to his present wife, Caroline Spielberg, at the same place, Feb. 21, 1376 ; she was born in Prussia ; they have two children-William and Bertha ; Mrs. Dehnert has four children by a former marriage-Albert, Emil, Emma and Minnie.

ADELBERT DE LAND, druggist, was born at Detroit, Mich., July 28, 1849; came. with his lather, John R. De Land (who still resides here), to Fond du Lac, in 1851; Mr. De L. began clerking in Dr. T. S. Wright's drug store, in 1864; in 1865, he went to Chicago, and was with J. H. Reed & Co., and their successors, H. A. Hurlbut & Co., until he returned to Fond du Lac and established his present business Jan. 1, 1877. He was married, at Janesville, Wis., Dec. 25, 1876, to Emma A. Terwilliger, a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y.

EDMUND DELANY, Jr., City Clerk ; was born at Factoryville, Tioga Co., N. Y., Nov. 11, 1841 ; a son of Edmund Delany, who is now a resident of Fond du Lae; came to Calumet, in this county, in 1849, and to Fond du Lae, where he has since resided, in 1853. Mr. D. enlisted in Co. A, 14th W. V. I., in October, 1861, as a private, but was elected Sergeant at the organization of the com- pany, and promoted, Aug. 9, 1862, to Second Lieutenant of Co. I, 21st W. V. I .; he was in all the bat- tles in which his regiment participated ; was mustered out March 29, 1863, after which, he was clerk in the Provost Marshal s office until it was abolished in October, 1865; he studied engineering and aided in preparing a map of the city of Fond du Lac; in 1870, Mr. D. was chosen City Clerk, which position he has since continuously occupied.

CHARLES DEMARAIS, blacksmith ; was born in Massachusetts in 1852; came to Fond du Lae with his parents, and settled at Fond du Lac in 1855; was educated in the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, at Delavan, Wis., from 1863 to 1870; learned the cabinet-maker's trade, but did not work at it very long; began blacksmithing in the La Belle Wagon Works in 1877, and has continued there since that time.

JULIEN DEMERS, proprietor of saloon; is a native of Canada, where he was born in 1837 ; he removed to Fond du Lac in 1854 and began running a saw-mill, which he now continues in con- nection with his saloon business. In 1859, he married Miss Lucy Latournau, a native of Canada, by whom he has had thirteen children, only two of whom- Julien and Adis-are living, and, with parents. are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Demers has taken quite an active part in the political interests of the Greenback party in his ward; was one of the men who organized the Greenback elub in the Sixth Ward, and has since held the office of Vice President of the same.

H. G. DE SOMBRE. dealer in fine watches and jewelry, silver and plated ware, musical instruments, ete .; is a native of Prussia ; he came to America with his father, B. C. De Sombre, in 1856 (his father is still a resident of this eity), located here at that time; commenced learning his trade of watehmaker and jeweler in October, 1861; began business for himself in the spring of 1866. He is Alderman of the Eighth Ward at the present time.

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FRED W. DE QUINE was born in Calumet Village, this county, Oct. 30, 1853; in Sep- tember, 1854, his father, Louis De Quine, died, and he came with his mother to Fond du Lae in 1855: she resides at No. 27 Doty street; Mr. D. attended school until April 4, 1870, when he served three years' apprenticeship as a machinist, and has worked ever since at that trade in Fond du Lac; he is fore- man of the Union Iron Works; is a Turner, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge.

DR. C. E. DICKINSON, dentist ; was born at Guilford, Chenango Co., N. Y., Nov. 23, 1849, where he lived until removing to Delaware in 1868, whence he came to Fond du Lac in 1871; he began the study of dentistry with Dr. C. W. Barnes in 1873, and began practice in April, 1878, in the city of Fond du Lac. where he now has a good business.

JOHN W. DILLON. photographer; was born in London, England, Oct. 27. 1847, and came to America when 12 years of age, living in New York City until July 27, 1864, when he enlisted in Battery B. 5th U. S. A., for three years, as a musician or bugler ; at the expiration of his term of serv- ice in 1867, he went to Chicago, thence to Bloomington and Lincoln, finally, coming to Fond du Lac the same year, and engaging in his present business, that of a photographer. Ile was married in Fond du Lac Feb. 25, 1873, to Ella M., a native of Manitowoc Co., daughter of Evander Soper, one of the earliest settlers of Wisconsin ; they have two children-Frank Earle and Harry Walton. Mr. D. belongs to the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias Lodges of Fond du Lac, and has been Alderman from the Eighth Ward since the spring of 1879.

JOHN A. DITTER. druggist, was born at Baden, Germany, June 2, 1852, whose father, Amos Ditter, now resides in this county; he came to Taycheedah in 1857, where he resided until coming to Fond du Lac in 1868; in 1871, he removed to Waterloo, but after three years returned to Fond du Lac, where, in December, 1875, he began the drug business. In 1877, Mr. Mitchell became his partner, under the firm name of Ditter & Mitchell. Mr. Ditter was married, at Fond du Lac, Nov. 15, 1877, to Katie Trimbor, a native of Marshfield. Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Ditter are members of St. Mary's Church, and Mr. Ditter of St. Joseph's Benevolent Society.

PHILIP DITTER, was born in Baden, Germany, June 27, 1844; came to Taycheedah from Europe in 1857. He enlisted Feb. 15. 1864. in Co. K, 35th W. V. 1., and was mustered out in May. 1866-serving in the Department of the Gulf at the siege of Mobile, White River and ten months in Texas. Mr. Ditter began his trade in March, 1861, and has been in business for himself about nine years. He was married at Fond du Lac July 6, 1871, to Mary Trimbor, who was born near Marytown, Wis .; they have five children-Joseph A., John P., Mary J., Mathias J. and Edward J. Mr. Ditter is a mem- ber of the Capuchin Church, and St. Joseph's Benevolent Society.

HENRY C. DITTMAR, proprietor of a steam dyeing and scouring establishment ; born in New York City July 4, 1846. He entered the United States Navy Feb. 22, 1864; served on the steam sloop Pawnee, United States sloop New Hampshire, the flag-ship Malvern and the surveying steamer Bibb ; left the naval service Feb. 20, 1867, and was located in Philadelphia until he came to Fond du Lac in 1873. He commenced work at the business he now carries on twenty-two years ago. He was married in Philadelphia. Dec. 31, 1867, to Catharine Johnson, a native of that city ; they have two children- Annie H and West A. Mr. Dittmar is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the K. of P. He is a son of Henry Dittmar, who came to this county in 1865, and is now engaged in farming in Calumet Town- ship.

HENRY DIRCKS, Foreman of the Hook and Ladder Co .; was born in New Holstein, Ger- many, Dec. 25, 1852; came with his parents, Henning N. and Theodocia Dircks, to America in 1857; after one year's residence in the State of New York they came to Fond du Lac, where they still reside ; at the age of 11 years Henry commenced to work in Griffith's saw-mill, in this city, where he remained three years ; afterward, for six years he was employed in the sasb, door and blind manufactory of C. J. L. Meyer; since that time he has been engaged in some work at the Mihills factory. He was married in the town of Lomira, Dodge Co., Wis., Nov. 13, 1879, to Amelia Wollenburg, who was born near Berlin in Prussia. Mr. Direks was Secretary of the Volunteer Fire Department for about five years ; since the organization of the present system he has been Foreman of the Hook and Ladder Co. He is a member of the Fireman's Mutual Aid Society. He belongs to the Lutheran Church, and St. Peter's Society connected with the church.

RICHARD DIX, was born in Saxony, April 27, 1827, from where, after attending Jena Uni- versity, Dresden College, and studying for a veterinary surgeon and practicing that profession about one year, he came to America in 1849, locating in Milwaukee; he followed the profession of veterinary sur- geon in Milwaukee and vicinity until 1855, when he came to Fond du Lac and engaged in the business of brewing, which he continued until 1862. Mr. Dix lived in Green Bay three years, where. with his parents, he built the gas-works; during the last two years he has not been in active business. He was

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married at Fond du Lac July 11, 1859, to Josephina Krembs, a native of Wurtemburg; they have one son-Richard. Mr. Dix also has a son by a former wife-Edwin J., who is in C. J. L. Meyer's office at Chicago. The two fine brick stores south of the Patty House belong to Richard Dix, who is a member of the Masonic Lodge and Chapter at Fond du Lac.

JULIUS DOZOTELL, engineer; residence corner of Brook and Ruggles street ; he was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., July 20, 1839; in 1849 he went to Galena, Ill., and came to Fond du Lac in 1850. He married in Jefferson, Wis., in 1861, Jennie MeInnis; their children are May, Josephine, Jennie L., Caddie V. and Francis A; Mr. Dozotell has been engaged as an engineer for over eighteen years. In pol- ities, he is a Republican.

ERASTUS W. DRURY, son of Needham and Clarissa Drury, nee Ladd; was born in Bangor, N.Y., in 1814 ; when he was about 2 years of age, his father changed his residence to Pittsford, Vt., from there, to Highgate, Vt., where he died in 1822. His son Erastus, being then only 8 years of age, was left to struggle upward alone as best he could ; he acquired a taste for study from his father, who was a teacher and had excited his ambition ; he afterward improved every opportunity, until be acquired a good academic education ; he was decidedly a self-made man ; he was early apprenticed to the printing business, and at the age of 18 years, became editor and publisher of the Vermont Argus, a Democratie paper which he conducted with remarkable ability and energy, working until midnight and rising at 3 A. M., thus allowing himself but three hours of sleep, and from three to five minutes for his meals ; he continued the paper abont two years, and then passing it over to his brother Hamilton Drury, he devoted himself to the study of law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice at Middlebury, Vt. In 1837, Mr. Drury was married to Eveline T. Horton, daughter of Daniel G. and Mary Horton, nee Drury, of Sudbury, Vt., went to Washington, D. C .. on his wedding tour, and received the appointment of Postmaster at Middlebury, Vt., through the influence of Hon. Silas Wright, U. S. Senator, from New York, and a personal friend of Mr. Drury ; in 1843, he came to Wisconsin Territory, and after entering a tract of land near Racine, he came to Fond du Lac County and entered 400 acres in Lamartine; he then formed a pleasant acquaintance with Dr. Mason C. Darling, became much interested in his plan for " laying out" the village of Fond du Lac, and concluded to make it his future home; he went back to Middlebury, Vt., intending to return soon, but on account of the protracted illness and subsequent death of his wife, he was delayed until 1846, when he returned to Fond du Lac and found the village being formed, with here and there a house on Main street, and a few buildings seemingly scattered over the prairie. but cach stood on a street regularly laid ont ; Mr. Drury then formed a partnership with Mr. John A. Eastman, a son-in-law of Dr. M. C. Darling. for the practice of law. In 1847, Mr. Drury went back to Schenectady, N. Y., and was married to Deborah Van Patten, daughter of Simon P. and Hannah Van Patten, nee Toll, and returned soon after to Fond du Lac with his wife, and two children of his first wife, a daughter and son, named Mary Eveline, who died after a few years, and Hamilton Horton ; of Mr. Drury's children after his second marriage, but one is living, a daughter named Harriet Deborah ; after having a house built on Marr street for his resi- dence, Mr. Drury had a block erected on Main street, opposite from where the Patty House now stands, for stores and offices, in which he had his law office for a number of years until the building was destroyed by fire ; Mr. Drury made investments in Fond du Lac and the vicinity from time to time, and in different parts of the State ; he continued in the practice of law until his failing health compelled him to retire from business. While Mr. Drury aimed to occupy a respectable position among his fellow-citizens, he was most anxious that his moral and religious influence in the church and community might be such as would meet the approval of his dear Savior to whose blessed service he consecrated himself at the early age of 11 years, when he became a member of the Congregational Church ; when he came to Fond du Lac, he united with the Congregational Church. which was then in its infancy, and assisted in sustaining it for several years, when he felt it his duty to join with eleven others of the members in organizing a Presby- terian Church, in which he labored to the best of his ability until his strength failed and he was laid aside, but he has been sweetly sustained through many trying years of illness by the presence of the dear Master wh an he sought to serve.

PETER DUFRANE, Jr., grocer, on West Division street; was born in Canada in 1853; when quite young, his parents moved to Fond du Lac, where he has since made his home; in 1870, he began clerking in a grocery store for C. E. Errard, with whom he remained until 1877, when he began the grocery business for himself. Mr. Dufrane is a member of St. Louis Catholic Church.

FRANK F. DUFFY, attorney ; was born in Richmond, Va., Feb. 2, 1851, and was educated at St. Charles College, in Maryland, where he graduated in 1870; he came to Fond du Lac in 1872; studied law with Coleman & Spence ; was admitted to the bar, and is now serving his second term as City Attorney of Fond du Lac; he is a member of the law firm of Conklin & Duffy, aud has a good business.

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HARVEY DURAND was born at Westfield, Chautauqua Co, N. Y., Nov. 2, 1827, where he resided until coming to Fond du Lac, in 1853; he read medicine five years out of curiosity ; after com- ing to Fond du Lac, was engaged with the engineer corps three years, on the Chicago & North-Western and Milwaukee and La Crosse railroads, after which he engaged in farming and speculating in the town of Fond du Lae about four years, after which he removed to the city where be has sinee resided, amusing himself by speculating and dealing in real estate ; he has been Assessor five years; was in the Provost Marshal's office of the Fourth District during the war, and has been Deputy U. S. Marshal since 1861. Mr. Durand also spent one year with James Coleman securing the right of way between Fond du Lac and Milwaukee, for the North-Western Union Railway ; in 1876, he made a tour of Europe, landing at Glas- gow, Scotland, in which country he visited Melrose Abbey, Abbotsford, Dumfries and the birthplace of Burns ; traveled over England and France, spending some time in London and Paris; visited the amphi- theater at Niems; explored Lyons, Versailles, Nancy and other French cities; passed down the shore of the Mediterranean to Rome, Naples and the Italian seaports; ascended Mt. Vesuvius, exploring its crater ; spent some time in Venice, at the Italian lakes, in Switzerland, Baden-Baden, and several German and Alsatian cities ; he returned in 1877, bringing, among other valuables, one of the finest guns to be found in England, with which he has since slaughtered great numbers of " yellow-bills," being fond of hunting and fishing, to which he devotes considerable attention. He was married at Rosendale, Wis., Sept. 33, 1860, to Jennie E., daughter of John Brown, who was born at Towanda, Cattaraugus Co, N. Y.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 120

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082